If you don’t want to buy an iPod for political or other reasons and still want a very lightweight and inexpensive MP3 player, the latest model from JVC might be the way to go. I tested the 1 GB XA-F107P, which lists for $150 (the same price as a Nano) and found it a great piece of gear.It is more compact than a Nano, about the size of a large walnut. It has a rechargeable battery that lasts all day, great for taking with you on long flights. Speaking of which, it really saved my sanity last week on such a flight when I was seated in front of Loud Rude Businessman Who Like To Yell.Operating the unit is very simple: the menu choices are obvious, the controls well placed. You turn it on with the play button, and turn it off with the stop button. It has a bright screen that shows you the song title and other controls that is easy to read even for this pair of old eyes. The sound is fabulous, either with the supplied ear buds or with the noise-canceling headphones that I use to block out those loud seatmates. Transferring files is also simple: you connect it via USB cable to your computer and drag and drop the files from your desktop. The cable is also what charges the unit’s battery, so there aren’t any other cables to lose or use. With a gigabyte of storage, you can fit several hundred songs on the thing, depending on the compression level you used to rip them. It also plays both MP3s and WMVThe one thing missing from the unit is a built-in microphone. There is a line-in port however.

If you don’t own a Mac – or if you don’t want to deal with iTunes and iThis and iThat, the JVC unit should be on your short list of media players. It also comes in a variety of colors to suit your fashion needs.